STORY: Israel's parliament voted to establish a military tribunal for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners accused of taking part in the October 7, 2023 attack from Gaza.
The measure passed late on Monday by a wide majority, winning support from 93 of the Knesset's 120 lawmakers.
:: Released October 7, 2023
The surprise attack was led by fighters from the Palestinian militant group Hamas. They burst through the Gaza border and rampaged through southern Israeli villages, army bases, and a music festival.
They killed at least 1,200 people, according to Israeli tallies, and took 251 hostages back to Gaza.
Israel responded by launching an assault on the enclave that killed more than 72,000 Palestinians, mostly civilians, and left much of Gaza in ruins in more than two years of war.
:: Israel Prison Authority
Over that period, Israel has held an estimated 200-300 fighters - the precise number is classified - captured in Israel in the Oct. 7 attack.
The special military court established by the bill would move these captives toward trials by a three-judge panel in Jerusalem.
Simcha Rothman is a parliamentarian from the Religious Zionism faction who co-authored the bill.
"This law will bring justice. This law will create the framework to punish those who did this. This law will tell the world the story of October 7th."
Rothman did so in collaboration with opposition parliamentarian Shelly Tal Meron.
"The opposition was a huge part of making this law. It was a part of the process. I think that there is the right to appeal within this legislation. And so it has enough checks and balances within this legislation. And that's the reason why we are going to vote for this legislation."
The tribunal proceedings will be public, with major hearings broadcast live.
Some critics said the new law raised concerns about due process, given the military court setting, as well as a risk of proceedings turning into politicized or symbolic "show trials."
Israel's penal code includes capital punishment for some of the charges which the militants are likely to face.
If handed down, a death sentence would trigger an automatic appeal on behalf of the defendant, according to the new law.
Hamas Gaza spokesperson Hazem Qassem said the new law "serves as a cover for the war crimes committed by Israel in Gaza."
The International Criminal Court is probing Israel's conduct of the Gaza war and has issued arrest warrants for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, as well as three Hamas leaders who have all since been killed by Israel.
